Some downsides of dynamic HTML

**Plane Sailing** · 27th February 2004, 02:50 PM

I understand that dynamic HTML is used on the site now to provide little drop down menus at the top.

This causes a problem for anyone using Mozilla based browsers who can't see them at all, but it also causes a problem for IE browsers too - the browser has to do more work when displaying the page and I find that on my PC the page often stutters when I'm trying to scroll or the page is restored or uncovered by another window.

If there is any way of living without the DHTML dropdowns it would be well worth doing, because it is not only keeping users of other browsers out of some parts of the site, it is also slowing down the site for those using the majority browser. (I've seen this worse in other sites that have really gone made with DHTML).

For those working on the site, do remember to test things on weedier machines too... sometimes things that seem fine on this years machine have problems on a PC just 2 years old!

Cheers

Zappo · 27th February 2004, 08:17 PM

I dunno about the speed, but I see them with Netscape 7 just fine.

Planesdragon · 27th February 2004, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plane Sailing

This causes a problem for anyone using Mozilla based browsers who can't see them at all,

Odd. Aside from the rich text entry field having horrid contrast, this site works PERFECTLY in the most-recent Gecko browsers I use.

Which browser are you using that doesn't show the DHTML?

**Plane Sailing** · 28th February 2004, 12:42 AM

Whoops, my mistake for making sweeping statements about Mozilla browsers... of course it is only certain mozilla browsers (firebird/firefox being well known examples).

I'm an IE user myself, and I was carelessly bolstering my case with fake information

(but my browser IS still extra-juddery!)

Cheers

Psionicist · 28th February 2004, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plane Sailing

(firebird/firefox being well known examples).

...!

Everything works exactly as it should in Firefox 0.8 (including the DHTML dropdowns), except for the WYSIWYG editor.

**Morrus** · 28th February 2004, 01:13 AM

I've said this before, but, from the Mozilla website:

Quote:

Firefox is a Technology Preview.

While this software may work well enough to be relied upon as your primary browser, we make no guarantees of its performance or stability in its pre-1.0 state and it should not be relied upon for mission- critical tasks. See the License Agreement for more information.

If things don't work with Firefox, you need to wait until Firefox is completed - or use a browser which is not a "technology preview".

barsoomcore · 28th February 2004, 08:03 PM

I am having no trouble at all with FireBIRD 0.7 on Win XP -- nor with Safari 1.0 on Mac OS X 10.2.

Nor have I noticed any sort of slow-down after the switch -- quite the contrary.

I wouldn't say I'd be surprised to hear that IE didn't perform very well, of course, because, um, IE doesn't perform very well.

Olorin · 28th February 2004, 08:41 PM

The new messageboards are smooth as silk for me under IE 6.

Michael Morris · 29th February 2004, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plane Sailing

For those working on the site, do remember to test things on weedier machines too... sometimes things that seem fine on this years machine have problems on a PC just 2 years old!

Cheers

vbulletin advance has been extensively tested. The new dropdowns are written by them, not by me (My drop downs didn't work too well, as anyone who can remember November can attest to). That said, when I get a chance I will set up a work around.

Mercule · 29th February 2004, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plane Sailing

For those working on the site, do remember to test things on weedier machines too... sometimes things that seem fine on this years machine have problems on a PC just 2 years old!

Looks fine on my 3 year old machine.